Bobsled



Patented Oct. 3 0, 1945 UNITED NsinTlzs PATENT orf-ICE f N noeste-n JohnW. Heagney, Minneapolis, Minn. Application `September' 28, 1944,SerlaliNo. 556,165

1 Claim. 2801`6) This invention relates to sleds, and more particularlyto sleds of the bobsled type.

An object of this invention is to provide a steerable sled embodyingfront and rear pairs of runners, with all of the runners independentlyrock able.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bobsled embodying afront bolster and a` fifth wheel secured thereto with the latter limitedin its turning movement.

VA further object of this invention is to provide I a bobsled which isof simple and sturdy construction so that it can be produced at lowcost.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a bobsled of thistype a pair of limit pins for each runner so as to limit the rockingthereof.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fullyappear,l the invention conslsts of the novel construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatchanges, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section ofa bobsled constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view partly broken away of the device. Y

Figure 3 is asectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally anelongated board comprising the body or seat of a bobsled, constructedaccording to an embodiment of this invention. The body Ill has securedbeneath the rear portion thereof a rear bolster I I, which is secured tothe lower side of the body I0 by fastening members I3. The bolster I Ihas extending from the opposite ends thereof a pair of trunnions I2 andI4 on which are rockably mounted a pair of runners I5 and I6,respectively. Runner I5 is held against outward movement by means of aholding pin I1 and one or more thrust washers I8 are interposed betweenthe holding member I 1 and the outer side of runner I5. Runner I1 isheld against outward movement by means of a holding pin I9 and one ormore thrust washers 20 are interposed between holding member I9 and theouter side of runner I6. Runner I5 on the inner side thereof hasextending inwardly therefrom a pair of stop pins 2| and 22, which aredisposed on opposite sides of the bolster II and normally spacedtherefrom. These stop pins are provided so as to limit the verticalrocking of runner I5 beneath the body I0. Runner I6 has secured to andextending inwardly from the inner side thereof apair of stop pins 23 and24, which are positioned on opposite sides of bolster II and normallyspaced therefrom so as to limit the vertical rocking of runner I6.

A front bolster 25 is disposed at the forward end thereof and beneaththe body I0. A wear plate 21 which is formed with a convex lower side 28is secured about the stud 26 and engages the upper edge of bolster 25.Bolster 25 is formed with a cutout 29 in the lower edge thereof within.which the lower endv of stud 26 extends, and a plurality of thrustwashers 30 are disposed about the stud 26 and are held against downward.movement by means of a holding pin 3I engaging through stud 26. Thebolster 25 has extending from the opposite ends thereof a pair oftrunnions 32 and 33 on which front runners 34 and 35 are rockablymounted. Runners 34 and 35 are independently rockable and runner 34 isheld against outward movement by means of a holding pin 36. One or morethrust washers 31 are interposed between holding pin 36 and the outerside of runner 34. A holding pin 38 extends through trunnion 33 'and oneor more thrust washers 39 are interposed between holding pin 38 and theouter side of runner 35.

A fifth wheel 40 is secured to the upper side of bolster 25 being formedwith an annular central opening 4I within which bearing or wear plate 21is adapted to engage. The outer edge of fifth wheel 40 is formed with acircumferential cutout 42 within which a stop pin 43 carried by the bodyI0 `is adapted to loosely engage. Stop pin 43 limits the rotary movementof fifth wheel 40 and recess or cutout 42 may be of any desired lengthto provide for the necessary steering action for steering the bobsled.Fifth Wheel 40 is provided at diametrically opposite points with a pairof outwardly extending arms 44 and 45, which project beyond the outeredge of body Ill, and in practice the forward end'of body I0 is ofreduced width, as indicated at 46. The arms 44 and 45 may be eithergrasped by the hands of the user of this device, or may be engaged bythe feet of the user to steer the lfront runner construction. y

Stud 26 is braced with respect to the body I0 by means of a downwardlyand forwardly extending bracing bar 41, which is formed with ahorizontal upper end 48 secured by fastening means 49 to a transverselydisposed strip 50 carried by and xedly secured to the lower side ofvbody l0. The lower forward end of bracing bar 41 is formed with ahorizontal part 5I through which the stud 26 engages and the extension5I engages between the two washers or thi'ust members 30,`which engagein the cutout 29. The forward end of the body I0 is rounded off, asindicated at 52, and the rear end of body I0 is cut out on a curve, asindcated at 53.

Runner 3,4.is` limitedl in its vertical rocking on trunnion 32by. meansvof a pair of stop `pins A5d and 55, which engage on opposite sides ofbolster 25, so as tolimit the rocking of runner 34. Runner 35 issimilarly limited in its vertical rocking by means of a pair of stoppins 56 and 51, which extend inwardly from the innerside of-runrien` 35and engage on opposite sides of front bolster *25.

With a bobsled as hereinbefore described each runner is independentlyrockable, and the front pair of runners are steerable, whereas the rearpair of runners have only vertical rocking movement. This bobsled can beconstructed Very sturdily and being of simple construction will notreadily get out of order so that the bobsled will withstand fairly hardusage.

What I claim is: i

In a bobsled, a front bolster, means pivotally mounting saidv bolster, apair of runners rockably carried by said bolster, a disc-shaped fthwheel carriedbysaid bolster andformedwith a peripheral slot, apair ofoutwardly Vextending steering arms carried by and coplanar with said ftnwheel, a pair of stop members carried by the inner side of each runnerdisposed on opposite sides of Y Said bolster and engageable with thelatter to thereby limit the rocking of said runners and a fifth wheel stop member engaging in said slot to limit the turning of said fifthwheel.

` JOHN W. HEAGNEY.

